I Became a Raid Boss
Chapter 202

“Thank you for the meal…!”

After playing around so enthusiastically for a long time, Da-eun dropped herself with a satisfied expression.

…My cheeks aren’t some kind of glutinous rice cake.

“What’s with ‘thank you for the meal’?”

“Eh… How could something this chewy and soft not be a rice cake? That doesn’t make sense, does it?”

“…Sometimes, I really wonder what’s going on in your head, Da-eun.”

No, not sometimes—quite often.

Whenever I talk to Da-eun, I end up questioning her logic for the same reason.

It’s just impossible for me to follow her train of thought with my way of thinking.

“…Hmm? Hahaha! Are you checking it right now? Seriously, every little thing you do is adorable.”

“…”

…Once again, I got caught up in Da-eun’s pace.

This happens every time, honestly.

I sighed deeply and turned my head to look out the window.

Poke.

“And how is it not soft? Look, your cheeks even give way to my finger like this.”

“Chie.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Chiiirgh.”

“Kana, you need to speak clearly! I’m okay with it, but if someone else hears, they might think it’s strange. Or… maybe not. Since Kana is so cute, they might just think it’s adorable… Ow!”

Da-eun, who had been rambling nonsense, suddenly let out a scream.

“Ah, okay! I won’t tease you anymore…! Let go…!”

After a light tap on the seat and securing her surrender, I let go of Da-eun’s finger that I had bitten.

Da-eun exaggeratedly blew on her now-freed finger as if trying to soothe it.

“What are you, a chihuahua? Look at the bite marks on my finger… But, well, even the teeth marks are tiny and just so Kana-like.”

“Rrr…”

“Alright, alright. I really won’t tease you anymore.”

Though she says that, she’ll forget all about it and start teasing me again in a few minutes.

Hmph.

I clicked my tongue in disapproval, rolling my eyes.

Clink.

As I shifted my body, the cube I was holding in my arms bumped against the interior of the car, making a sound.

“Is it okay to hold onto that like that?”

Da-eun spoke in a deliberately concerned tone.

“I heard something weird happened on Jeju Island because of it. What if something happens while you’re holding it?”

“It should be fine… Probably.”

“You’ve already used that line before.”

“That line?”

“…Never mind. Forget I said anything.”

To be honest, holding onto it like this does make me uneasy.

Especially when I recall the eye I saw when I broke the cube—it’s more than just unsettling; I want to throw it as far away as possible.

Slide.

My finger traced the single blemish on its smooth surface.

I struck it with the intent to shatter it completely, but all it did was leave a scratch on the surface.

Of course, I wasn’t going all out, but still, the fact that this was the most damage I could do… it stung my pride.

Well, considering it’s something connected to that monster, I guess it’s not too surprising.

“Huh? Kana, why are you suddenly trembling? Are you cold? Should I turn on the heat?”

“No.”

“…You’re okay?”

“Mmhm.”

“…”

But even though I felt uneasy, I kept holding onto the cube for the same reason.

I didn’t feel safe leaving it out of my sight.

Whatever might happen, I figured it would be better if it happened right in front of me.

‘…Still, maybe….’

Thinking about Da-eun sitting next to me, I wondered if it would’ve been better to put it in the trunk.

After a moment’s hesitation, I shook my head.

If it’s anything like the eye I saw that day, it wouldn’t matter whether it’s in the trunk or in my arms.

If I were that worried, I shouldn’t have asked Da-eun to come along in the first place.

At this point, worrying is pointless.

I just have to hope nothing happens.

Poke.

“…Hey?”

“…”

Poke poke.

“Kana?”

“…Hm?”

Lost in thought, I snapped back to reality when I felt fingers poking at my cheek.

“You didn’t even answer when I called. What were you thinking about so deeply?”

“Just… something. But why were you calling me?”

“Why else?”

Da-eun shrugged and unbuckled her seatbelt.

“You were just sitting there quietly even though we’ve arrived.”

“Oh.”

Only then did I realize the car that had been driving down the road was now completely still.

When I lifted my head, I saw a familiar building through the window.

A rather tall structure.

It’s known as the company that created Silia Online, a game with worldwide popularity.

But in reality, it’s Demoninus, the company that Earth’s Administrator and Edel established to fend off Dimensional Creatures.

“We’ve been expecting you.”

As soon as we got out of the car, a man greeted us as if he had been waiting.

“Huh? Us?”

“Yes.”

“…Why?”

“…?”

A confused Da-eun.

And the man, also looking puzzled, stared at her in silence before both of them simultaneously turned their gazes toward me.

What a ridiculous exchange.

“Lead the way.”

“…Understood.”

“-Wait a minute! Didn’t I tell you not to follow strangers so carelessly?”

“That only applies to actual strangers, right?”

We’ve only met once before, but that still means he’s not a total stranger, doesn’t it?

“And he’s not even a person.”

“…Huh? What do you mean by that? Not a person…?”

“Come on, Da-eun, let’s go.”

“Wait, no. Hold on. What do you mean by that…?! Kana? Aren’t you listening? Hey?”

I started walking, following the angel who was leading the way.

Da-eun would follow me eventually anyway.

There was no need to stand idly in the middle of the parking lot chatting.

“Wait for me!”

As expected, Da-eun quickly caught up, running toward us.

Though she hadn’t run far, Da-eun panted heavily, complaining between breaths that I couldn’t tell were exaggerated or genuine.

“That was mean. I was seriously curious, you know…”

The cold Kana.

I replied indifferently to Da-eun, who was pouting with her lips sticking out.

“If I start talking to you, there’s no end to it.”

What starts as a simple conversation always turns into me being swept away by the whirlpool Da-eun creates, only to end up drowning in the deep ocean.

Holding the cube tightly in my arms, all I wanted was to hand it over as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to indulge in one of Da-eun’s usual pointless chats.

And yet.

Grin.

“…?”

For some reason, Da-eun wasn’t upset or sulky. Instead, she smirked and curved the corners of her lips mischievously.

“That means you enjoy talking to me that much, right?”

“…How do you come to that conclusion?”

“Isn’t it obvious? You said you talk so much with me that it never ends. Like the saying, ‘so much fun you don’t even realize the axe handle is rotting.’”

“Not even close.”

I shook my head firmly.

This ability of hers to interpret things however she wants is truly a talent.

Ignoring Da-eun’s antics, I focused on keeping pace with the angel ahead.

Thanks to that, we soon reached the president’s office, where Edel was waiting for us.

Edel greeted us with a light wave of her hand.

“Welcome. It’s been a while.”

The angel bowed to Edel and left the office.

“Not really. It hasn’t been that long, has it?”

“…It was just a greeting. Did you really take it seriously? You don’t have any friends, do you?”

“…”

“Pfft! …Ahem. I didn’t say anything~?”

Glare.

Not even trying to hide it, huh.

Da-eun’s lips were twitching uncontrollably.

“…Ack!”

I lightly kicked Da-eun’s knee as she belatedly covered her mouth, though stifled laughter still escaped.

“Here, take it.”

I threw the cube I’d been holding to Edel.

Even though it was a sudden toss, Edel caught the cube without difficulty.

“This is the one? The thing that separated the Gye?”

“I’m not entirely sure, but probably.”

The light had disappeared from the cube, the rain had stopped, and the barrier had vanished, so it must be.

Even though I’d explained it over the phone and sent pictures, Edel examined the cube with curiosity, as if it was the first time she’d seen it.

Well, it’s true this was her first time seeing it in person.

Watching Edel inspect the cube from various angles, much like I had done when I first saw it, I asked,

“Do you have any guesses?”

“Not really. Just looking at it like this isn’t enough to tell.”

“Eh…”

“What’s with that face? Like you’re saying, ‘What kind of god doesn’t even know this?’”

I flinched.

How did she know?

She doesn’t know what the cube is, but she sure reads expressions well.

“You’re just easy to read. Anyway, if I figure out what this is, I’ll let you know immediately.”

Clatter.

Edel placed the cube on the desk as if she was done with it.

The last time I was here, her desk had been piled high with documents.

Today, it was surprisingly clean.

Edel leaned back into her plush-looking chair.

“You said you had something to tell me?”

“Yeah.”

The reason I came all the way to Demoninus instead of just sending the cube.

Sure, I was worried about something happening during transport, but there was a more important reason.

“That day, when I broke this, I saw something.”

“…Something?”

“…Yeah.”

As I recalled the eye I saw, my body began trembling again.

Logically, I knew there was no reason to be scared now.

But my body reacted instinctively, adhering to the primal instinct of self-preservation.

Whoosh.

“…!”

“It’s okay.”

At that moment, a warm presence embraced me from behind.

The familiar warmth and scent briefly eased my mind, though my mouth spat out curt words.

“…Da-eun, you don’t know anything. You just scolded me for being wet.”

“Haha. Are you sulking because I didn’t understand how you felt? I’m sorry~”

Da-eun laughed softly and patted my head.

“You’re right. Like Kana said, I don’t know anything. But I can at least give my cute Kana a hug to help her feel less anxious, can’t I?”

“…Hmph.”

…How ridiculous.

That’s what I thought, but I could feel the trembling subsiding.

“This is disgusting to watch.”

Edel frowned, her tone full of disapproval.

“If you’re going to act all lovey-dovey, do it at home. Can we get to the point already?”

“Are you jealous? Sorry, but Kana’s my little sister, so I’m not giving her to you.”

“Take as much as you want. I wouldn’t ask for such a brat anyway.”

“…I don’t like it either.”

Living with Edel?

Just imagining it is horrifying.

I shook my head vigorously to clear the dreadful thought.

Then, recalling the events of that day, I began to speak slowly.

—

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